MEXICO

Last month we got to go to Mexico for a week. No kids. Adults only. It was seriously one of the best times of my life!! It was amazing. But I have so many pictures it would take a lifetime to update this, so here is a quick summary.

Our quest was not just a vacation...we had planned to serve at an orphanage, so we landed in Arizona and went shopping at Sams and Walmart and bought anything and everything we could think that the childrens home would need. It was really fun!

After packing everything into our two SUV's (with luggage moved to the top rack) we headed into Puerto Penasco, Mexico. Our first stop was at an authentic taco stand. If this is what our week was going to taste like, we could handle it. Bring on the carne asada. DELICIOSO!

Before we got to our resort, we stopped at the orphanage and spent a few hours playing with the kids. Despite the language barrier, there was a fast connection made. Our hearts were full of love for the kids and we were eager to return for another day of fun with them (pictures down below...I'll share more later)... But after a long day of travel and being at the orphanage we were ready to start our relaxation!! We stayed at Las Palomas. Check it out HERE. AMAZING was an understatement. We were like giddy children getting our wrist bands and checking out our pad for the week. The condo was lavish, beach front, and beautiful.

5 little monkeys jumpin on the bed

We had lots of fun walking the beach, jumping the waves in the water, swimming at the pools, getting massages, searching for shells...which I must say this beach had PLENTY of. This was the best beach I have ever been to for shells. We found so many treasures. I had so much fun! I even found 2 octopus. SO COOL!

We had too much fun souvenir shopping, checking out the ship yard (awesome pirate ship we wished Tanner could have seen), eating Mexican food nonstop, and just checking out Mexico.

We ate Italian along the shore and watched the sun go down. It was breathtaking!

This was one of the most fun experiences ever...we just hung at the beach all day relaxing and rented jet ski's. Landon and I were out jumping waves, and I mean literally jumping out of my seat, it was a blast. And then 6 dolphins came swimming all around us. Close enough I almost touched one. They weren't scared either. We followed each other for awhile and then we watched them swim deep into the ocean. It was UNBELIEVABLE! I will never forget that experience.

My matching earrings and bracelet bling I bought from an old cute mexican vendor!

Another day at the orphanage. I could write a whole book just on this. The kids were SO CUTE. We instantly fell in love with them. We brought water toys this time and they had such a blast. We made them dinner, at their request, hot dogs. It was so joyful spending time with them even though communication was scarce, the smiles on their faces was enough. They lived so simple and had so little, yet they had so much! They were humble and gracious and so kind. We brought them many things, but I think they gave us so much more in return.

We don't need "things" in this life to be happy. Look at how happy they are!

Guillermo and his family above help run the childrens home. They live there with the children and have little compensation. You know they do it out of the goodness of their hearts. They are amazing examples of charity and selflessness. I know they will be rewarded one day for their sacrifices. Serving at the Esperanza childrens home was a life changing event!

We had one final group excursion: deep sea fishing. We saw seals swimming in the water, sword fish jumping into the sky, and had a blast reeling in fish all day, which we later cooked that night in a big fish fry.

dang, he's hot!

This trip was amazing. We got to bond as friends and co-workers, serve and open our hearts to the simplicities of life, relax and enjoy time as a couple and just appreciate living in the moment. I hope we can go back to Puerto Penasco again someday. The city was so poor and had little to offer. It was quite an extreme going from town back to the beach row of condos and hotels. It really makes you re-evaluate your priorities and what's important in life. I'm so grateful for my family and for the abundant blessings I have. I believe that in many ways poverty is a blessing. These people aren't caught up in the worldly cares that so many people are lost on these days. It really is true that life is not complex, WE are complex and make it that way by the THINGS in life.